Aquaculture

The rapid increase of aquaculture production of finfish (= ray-finned fish) leads to the development of the framework of precision aquaculture. One of its components is the development of reliable models to predict how animal variables vary dynamically in response to external factors. The impact of different management conditions on the growth and performance of species in aquaculture must be understood to ensure the highest standards in welfare and to optimise productivity. Experiments with fish typically involve extensive use of laboratory facilities and run for long periods of time. Both from an ethical perspective (3Rs) and from a cost perspective, there is a need to use alternatives, such as models and tools for design and planning of experiments.

As part of AQUAEXCEL2020, a virtual laboratory (VL) system has been developed to test in silico different experimental protocols, before the real implementation in the research facility. The VL system features a framework that allows the integration of mathematical models of different subsystems in common simulations, replicating the system operation of research laboratories. Models for growth, nutrition and waste production, hydrodynamic flow fields in tanks and cages, and water quality and water treatment have been wrapped in Functional Mock-up Units (FMUs). The different models are realized in different simulation environments and are integrated in common simulations using the Functional Mock-up Interface (FMI).

One of the VL components is the AquaFishDEB model which is based on DEB theory and is designed to predict growth, feed consumption and waste production for three fish aquaculture species (Atlantic salmon, gilthead seabream and rainbow trout). The model is explicitly tied with food and temperature and accommodates different feeding strategies (e.g. ad libitum or restricted, feeding frequency, adaptive feeding) and food compositions.

As part of AQUAEXCEL 3.0, the VL system will be extended to include more species and a behavioral sub-model.